Jardine takes to podium in support of BTCC.

Normally a figure in the Formula 1 paddock, ITV analyst Tony Jardine turned up at the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship down at Brands Hatch, snatching a podium position in the Heritage Grand Touring Car Challenge

Jardine stormed through the field at Brands Hatch to snatch third position on the podium from a Corvette Stingray, in the mighty Aston Martin V8 he was sharing with owner Bob Searles.

As the final laps unfolded of the two driver endurance event, Jardine was locked in combat with John Young's Chevrolet Corvette Stingray, trying every which way to pass but being constantly thwarted. Series and race leader Arthur Thurtle was blocked behind the battling duo trying to lap the pair but was unimpressed with Jardines' manoeuvres, which included reputedly ignoring blue flags - indicating a competitor is following closely and trying to pass.

As Jardine commented afterwards: "The air was a bit blue in the pit lane afterwards but I had seen Arthur standing off as I was totally absorbed in trying to find a way past the Corvette. I saw blue flags but thought they were for John in front of me. Afterwards I understood why Arthur Thurtle was upset as he had been badly delayed, but in the end I waved him by. Bob Searles and I were absolutely delighted to take third, after our recent retirement at Mallory Park - we deserved a good result."

The ITV man finally found a way past John Young by going round the outside at Druids hairpin, taking to the grass on the exit, then holding the inside line down the inside of Graham Hill bend to force his way through. For that he received Manoeuvre of the Day Award at the Heritage prize giving later from organiser Roger Bennington.

Aston Martin owner Bob Searles started the race from eleventh position after two punctures in qualifying but he soon moved up to sixth in the first part of the race which included a couple of dramatic moments on the grass as other cars blocked him. "We had the speed and consistency," said Searles, "there was only ever a couple of tenths between our times which shows Tony and I can be a good combination and this result proves it."

Jardine underlined Searles' confidence in him by charging from fourteenth where they dropped after the pit stop to take third by the finish. "We really enjoyed ourselves which included watching British Touring Car Championship action which is also shown on ITV, now I hope everybody is ready for the Canadian G.P. action on ITV 1 next weekend, it should be fierce," plugged a happy Jardine.